Billions of euros will flow to Poland. However, the government is appealing for further support. Urgent appeal to the EIB

The amount paid this year by the European Investment Bank is expected to be similar to the amount Poland received in 2023. – The level of financing for Polish projects will depend solely on the demand for EIB funds from Polish promoters and the level of preparation and maturity of the projects submitted for evaluation – explained Teresa Czerwińska, vice-president of the European Investment Bank (EIB) responsible for the Bank’s activities in Poland, in an interview with .

The European Investment Bank will pay out billions of euros. Poland asks about defense financing

The EIB Vice-President also raised the issue of possible financing of Poland’s defense needs. – The potential extension of the EIB project financing criteria to include defense needs, if such a decision were taken, would require analyzes of the consequences of such a decision for the EIB’s capital base – she said. Czerwińska pointed out that such a step should be carefully analyzed in terms of a possible increase in the cost of financing.

Expenditures on military equipment and ammunition are currently excluded from financing by the European Investment Bank. The EIB, however, provides low-interest loans for dual-use projects, i.e. for civilian and military purposes. It is not only Poland that demands changes in this area.

14 countries want the EIB to finance defense projects. “It’s urgent”

In mid-March, 14 countries, including Poland, appealed for financing of defense projects from the European Investment Bank. According to Polish Radio correspondent Beata Płomecka, the leaders sent a letter on this matter to the president of the EIB, the president of the European Council and the prime minister of Belgium, which manages the work of the European Union. In addition to the head of the Polish government, Donald Tusk, the document was signed by the prime ministers of Latvia and Estonia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Italy, as well as the presidents of France, Lithuania and Romania, as well as the Chancellor of Germany. “We need to explore various options that would enable the EIB to invest in defense-related activities beyond existing projects,” the fourteen leaders wrote in the letter.

The heads of state and government emphasized that the matter is urgent because the European Union must provide military support to Ukraine for as long as necessary and also increase its security and defense capabilities. Politicians also pointed out that the possibility of the EIB financing defense projects would help attract private investors.